Artemisia

Common varieties known as

Mugwort, Wormwood, & Tarragon

Named after the goddess Artemis, Artemisia has a strong warrior spirit. It guards the forests making a home along woodland edges and meadows. Originating in Europe and East Asia, it became a potent healer for many of our ancestors. Its resilience and ability to thrive in diverse landscapes encouraged it to flourish in many regions, eventually naturalizing across the northern hemisphere, where it can be found in abundant populations. It’s tolerant to drought, poor soil, and extreme temperatures – hence its dominance throughout the north.

Today, Artemisia has taken on a bad rap as a relentless weed easily found on roadsides, but to our ancestors, the herb was regarded sacred with a high medicinal and ✶ magical ✶ reputation, known for its ability to heal, protect, and foretell. 

All varieties of Artemisia are named after the powerful deity Artemis, an aspect of to Potnia Theron, “Mistress of the Animals,” a Paleolithic motif that spread throughout cultures.  Artemis is the goddess of the wilderness, the herbalist, the midwife, the protector of cyclical beings, the guardian of liminal spaces, and most notably, the huntress. She is an untamed wild woman who runs free with the wolves, known as the Mother of all Creatures, and bound to no man. She has become famous throughout history as the virgin goddess of childbirth who protects mothers and the young, even though, seemingly contradictory, she heads the hunt.

The Roman goddess Diana, Norse goddess Skaði, Slavic goddess Devana, Finnish goddess Mielikki, and Navajo goddess Hastseoltoi share aspects of the Huntress archetype.

PLEASE NOTE

I do not support worshipping deities or anything outside of yourself. I speak to Artemis/The Huntress as an archetypal figure in this particular realm, and how Artemisia’s spirit embodies many of its aspects. Use the plant Artemisia in a way that resonates with you!

Protection

Artemisia’s protective properties have been recognized in the practices of our ancestors, who adorned their homes with it and carried or wore it as an amulet to guard against ghosts, wild beasts, poison, disease, sunstroke, mental madness, and malevolent forces. Because of its ability to protect, it became beneficial to travelers and picked up the nickname the traveler’s herb.

PURIFICATION

Artemisia’s protective qualities are relied upon and employed when smudging to cleanse a space. The herb is an ecological alternative to overharvested white sage. It is a treasured purifying herb due to its sweet but subtle scent and microbial properties. Traditionally, smudging or burning incense is a common purification method. Science has finally caught up with what many of our ancestors already knew, the herbal smoke of certain antimicrobial plants can kill bacteria (see sources below).

VENUSIAN HERB

The silvery underside of the leaf is soft and luxurious. In the East, Artemisia is known as a beautifying herb and made into a tonic. It is helpful for tonifying, tightening, and healing the skin.

Thirteen thousand years ago Artemisia (Artemisia douglasiana) was known as molush or the dream sage by the Chumash peoples of North America. It was used by healers to receive spiritual messages and promote positive dreams. Its reputation as a dream herb isn’t exclusive to the Chumash though, people from around the world have reported improved dream recall, enhanced dream creativity, and even lucid dreaming when ingesting the herb shortly before bed.

In Korean tradition, Mugwort hot baths or steams are taken late at night to promote vivid dreaming. A pillow or dream sachet stuffed with the herb and slept upon is also said to produce the same effects.

Artemisia is considered a portal opener, dissolving the veils created by the synthetic matrix, and enabling exploration beyond our perception in this dimension and density. As a guardian of liminal spaces, Artemisia has the ability to initiate clarity of the dream experience and bring visions and awareness to the dream’s purpose in waking life. It has a history of being used to protect against nightmares and negative dream experiences. The dried leaves are often smoked or drunk as a tea to promote its oneirogenic effects which are believed to be due to its aromatic and sedative properties.

RELATED POST: Oneirogenic Herbs for Dreamwork

ASTRAL PROJECTION

Placing Artemisia next to your bedside, consuming it, or using it as incense is thought to facilitate astral projection and amplify psychic sensitivity. Personally, I think lucid dreaming is a much safer method of exploring as it is an inward practice rather than an outward practice, but to each their own!